1 TImothy 2:11, "recieve instruction"

1 Timothy 2:11

receive instruction

A woman is to learn and to receive instruction. They are to be strong in the word and are to walk in soundness. They are to know the Word as well as men. The Jewish custom was to allow women to learn if they desired to, but they did not feel that it was necessary nor did they encourage it. Here Paul is saying that it is a necessity that women learn. This was also the attitude of Christ who taught both women and men, as well as children. And it was the attitude of the early church that assembled with both women and men. The involvement of women in the church was seen as vital and necessary. However this learning does not qualify them to go beyond scripture. They are to remain submissive to men and are not to take up teaching or have authority over a man. Women are to continue to guard their incorruptible beauty and strength that God has given them and honor the men.
Some would say that the reason women were not allowed to teach and have authority was because they were unlearned. Although this was the case for many women, this was not the case for all women of that time. In the Jewish custom women were allowed to learn, although it was not expected. In fact, we have examples of educated women in Timothy’s mother and grandmother and Priscilla and probably others. Women were taught and educated under the teaching of Jesus, the greatest of all teachers. And women were involved in listening to the teachings of the church. So there were women in the church at this time who were well educated. And yet everywhere in all the churches they were not to teach and have authority over a man. This was not based on whether they were educated or not, but on God’s purpose and design when he made man first, as Paul makes very clear later on in this passage. Also if this was Paul’s intention then he would not later restrict teaching and authority after claiming that women should learn, instead he would have stated that women are not to teach or have authority until they are learned. Neither Paul nor Jesus, were one to be timid and be pushed around by cultural ideas. They both went against the cultural norm many times. Instead he uses not teaching and having authority as a qualification to learning. Basically he says, “They can learn, but they cannot teach or have authority.”

Here is something I wrote in a letter: I have thought about the "lack of education" part, but it cannot be substantiated. In fact, Jewish women were allowed to learn, but often did not because they were not encouraged to, but an educated Jewish woman was not out of the question. I also don't think this is Paul's reason because it comes after a statement of him admonishing women to learn. Even though they are to learn, they are not to lead. If learning was the problem, he would not have restricted them to teach, or would have said to wait till they are learned. Also his [Paul’s] reasons are not based on anything outside of scripture. He gives his reason for not allowing women to teach or have authority within the text, and that is because man was created first (the state of submission before the fall), and the fall. We do not need to find an outside reason and if there is one that is presented it must substantiate Paul’s reason, because scripture is more authoritative.